Whether you’re a true foodie or just a regular human who enjoys eating, I’ve put together the 100 foods you NEED to try!
I mostly avoided the super-obvious and the weird-just-to-be-weird foods, but there are staples like the four pizzas everyone should try and a handful of foods you’ll need some bravery to try (fried tarantula, anyone?).
I’ve personally had 76 of the 100 … 24 more to go!
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Country: China
Type of Food: Appetizer/Main Course
The Pitch: If you know, you know! Officially known as xiaolongbao (XLB), soup dumplings are dumplings taken to the next level. The best restaurant to have XLB, in our opinion, is Din Tai Fung.
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Sandwich
The Pitch: This New England classic can be found steaming hot and well-priced throughout the region.
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Country: Either Australia or New Zealand (it’s a point of contention!)
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: It’s a baked meringue named after the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.
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Country: Scotland
Type of Food: Savory Pudding
The Pitch: This is our first one that’s not for the faint of heart. It’s a sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs encased in its stomach.
We’ll forgive you if it’s not on your personal food bucket list.
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Country: Northwest African countries
Type of Food: Breakfast main course (but any time of day works!)
The Pitch: This eye-popping dish is eggs elevated by a tomato-based sauce. See also the Italian version: Eggs in Purgatory.
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Country: Japan
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: This doughy, sticky rice ball has gotten quite popular in recent years, including the mochi ice cream variant!
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Country: Eastern Mediterranean countries
Type of Food: Cheese
The Pitch: If you haven’t had this amazing goat/sheep cheese, preferably grilled like the picture above, go get some right now … you’re welcome in advance!
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Country: Japan
Type of Food: Appetizer/Main Course
The Pitch: As the name would suggest, it’s raw horse meat. Another one we’ll forgive you for skipping!
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Country: Indian subcontinent
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: It’s made of different ingredients, but think of the most delicious donut-ty ball soaked in honey for the closest comp. Stunningly delicious!
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Seafood Appetizer
The Pitch: Created at Antoine’s in New Orleans way back in 1889 when they didn’t have escargot, these oysters covered in a buttery green sauce clearly stand the test of time!
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Country: Japan
Type of Food: Sushi/Sashimi
The Pitch: This is the edible part of a sea urchin, which also happens to be its reproductive organ.
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Country: Spain/Portugal
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: Cinnamon donut-like goodness that’s even better when paired with melted chocolate (churros y chocolate)!
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Country: Vietnam
Type of Food: Sandwich
The Pitch: The French influence in Vietnam is shown here with this baguette-based sandwich that carries delicious meats and vegetables!
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Country: Canada
Type of Food: Side Dish
The Pitch: If you’re in Montreal or Quebec in general, it’s hard to miss the fries loaded with cheese and gravy. It’s a dish Americans are kicking themselves for not inventing!
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Country: Egypt
Type of Food: Appetizer (aka Meze)
The Pitch: These chickpea-based (or broad bean-based) fried dough balls are such a popular street food, either alone or as part of a sandwich.
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Country: France
Type of Food: Appetizer
The Pitch: If the idea of eating snails bothers you, know that many are drowned in so much butter, garlic, and herbs that the snail meat mostly just adds a texture.
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Country: Spain
Type of Food: Cheese
The Pitch: This is a sheep’s milk cheese that must be made in Spain’s La Mancha region. Cheese connoisseurs love its unique flavor.
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Country: Korea
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: Beef bulgogi may be the protagonist of Korean barbecue. Bonus: It literally translates as “fire meat!”
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Country: Mexico and Guatemala
Type of Food: Main Course/Appetizer
The Pitch: These corn-based delights wrapped in corn husks (or banana leaves) are simply amazing when executed well. I’d recommend pork tamales, but to each their own!
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Soup
The Pitch: The thick, creamy potato-and-clam-infused New England clam chowder is probably the most famous but there are many variants including the red, tomato-based Manhattan clam chowder.
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Country: Italy
Type of Food: Bread
The Pitch: Focaccia is a flatbread, often featuring rosemary. It’s a fantastic accompaniment to pastas or as a sandwich bread.
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Country: France
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: That beautifully tasty caramalized sugar on top makes this custard! See also the very similar Spanish version: crema catalana.
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Country: Japan
Type of Food: Sashimi
The Pitch: This is the famous pufferfish known for being extremely poisonous if prepared improperly. Though chefs are specially trained to avoid the poisonous parts, we do realize the irony of putting a poisonous fish on our bucket list!
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Country: Colombia/Venezuela
Type of Food: Bread
The Pitch: This maize flatbread feels too delicious to just be bread. Still, it makes a mean sandwich stuffed with various meats and cheeses!
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Country: Vietnam
Type of Food: Soup
The Pitch: This hearty noodle soup (pronounced “fuh”) is Vietnam’s national dish. Whether it’s made with chicken, tofu, beef, or more exotic meats, it’s delicious!
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Country: France
Type of Food: Sandwich
The Pitch: A croque madame is a croque monsieur with an egg on top, so it gets the nod here. It’s got ham and cheese (including on top) and sometimes bechamel sauce. Gruyere is the usual cheese but it can also be Emmental or Comte.
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Country: India
Type of Food: Heavy Appetizer
The Pitch: Deep fried dough holds well-spiced mashed up potato and other veggies. Such a treat! Generally, the bigger the better in order to get a good filling-to-shell ratio!
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Country: England
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: It’s so popular (fish and chips is the nation dish, after all), even Gordon Ramsay has a chip shop! The best we’ve had are the traditional cod fish ‘n’ chips at Gigs in London.
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: Ask anyone from the South, and they’ll tell you two things: 1) You can’t get truly great fried chicken in the North and 2) Some of the best fried chicken in the South is found in gas stations!
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Country: Switzerland
Type of Food: Main course
The Pitch: OK, some of us aren’t particularly satisfied by a “death by a thousand cuts” small bites experience like tapas and fondue, but it’s a beautifully communal dining experience dipping bread in a vat of melted cheese. Think of it as deconstructed nachos!
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Country: Malaysia/Singapore
Type of Food: Seafood
The Pitch: I mean, just look at that picture and tell me you don’t want to dig into those crabs smothered in that tomato and chili-based sauce. Even better with mantou buns!
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Country: Southeast Asian countries
Type of Food: Fruit
The Pitch: This is one of the few controversial fruits out there. The smell can make many retch, but it has many fans as well. File this as a “challenge” food for your bucket list!
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Country: Italy
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: Gelato has less butterfat and more air than American ice cream … and is delicous! Our favorite is at Grom … the strawberry (“fragola” in Italian) is next level!
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Country: China
Type of Food: Appetizer
The Pitch: The traditional method of preparing duck, chicken, and quail eggs in an alkaline salt mixture takes months, not years. More modern methods take mere weeks. Do you have the stomach for trying this one?
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Country: Australia
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: We have to admit, kangaroo steak looks delicious! And it’s a lean meat! People who have eaten it describe it as game-y but similar enough to beef and venison.
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Country: Italy
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: Some might mistake it for pasta, but risotto is an Italian rice dish that melts in your mouth. The mushroom version we have pictured above is a popular version but there are many other variations.
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Country: China
Type of Food: Heavy Appetizer
The Pitch: You may know these steamed, stuffed buns as “bao.” We’ve got meat pictured above but vegetables are also a popular filling.
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Country: Poland
Type of Food: Heavy Appetizer
The Pitch: These filled dumplings are so buttery and delicious. A mashed potato filling is perhaps the most common but there are so many savory (and sweet) varieties to dip in the often-accompanying sour cream.
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Country: Middle East Countries
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: Kabobs (or kebabs) are amazing meat skewers that you can eat with naan or rice. Add in the sauces and sides like chick peas, and we’re rolling!
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Country: France
Type of Food: Cheese
The Pitch: Getting its name from the village it was invented in, this soft cheese can be confused for brie. One difference is that Camembert has less butterfat.
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Country: Spain (but throughout Latin America, too)
Type of Food: Heavy Appetizer
The Pitch: A wonderful handheld turnover with meat, cheese, or veggies. This classic dates back as early as the 7th century!
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Country: France
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: Directly translated, it’s “bread with chocolate.” You may just call it a chocolate croissant. In any case, it’s simply fantastic!
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Country: Philippines
Type of Food: Street Food Heavy Appetizer
The Pitch: Balut is usually a duck’s egg where the embryo is allowed to develop for two to three weeks. It’s then boiled or steamed. This one may be nixed from many bucket lists because of either squeamishness or ethical concerns.
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Country: West African Countries
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: This jambalaya-like rice dish is the source of pride and friendly rivalries among West African countries like Ghana and Nigeria. Good-natured “Jollof Wars” on social media and dis tracks are a thing!
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Country: Mexico (also huge in California)
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: The name tells you everything…tacos with fried or grilled fish. You can almost taste the ocean!
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Country: Southeast Asian countries
Type of Food: Noodle Soup
The Pitch: This soup has a lot of variants but usually has rice noodles, can have various meats, and can have coconut curry or asam.
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Country: Japan
Type of Food: Fish Main Course
The Pitch: The definitive version of this dish is from the Nobu restaurant chain that started in Los Angeles and now has over 50 locations worldwide.
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Country: Italy
Type of Food: Cheese
The Pitch: This mozzarella-based delight has that flowing goodness inside after you pierce the outer coating. Paired perfectly with everything Italian!
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Country: Korea
Type of Food: Appetizer (Banchan)
The Pitch: For enthusiasts, this fermented cabbage is an absolute obsession. Why not? With literally hundreds of variations (including other vegetables), it’s tempting to catch them all!
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Stew
The Pitch: One of the calling cards of Louisiana, gumbo is like throwing every delicious thing you know in a pot until perfected!
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Country: Japan
Type of Food: Style of Serving Sushi
The Pitch: Omakase means “leave to someone else” and is basically a chef’s table. See it in action in the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
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Country: Italy
Type of Food: Pizza
The Pitch: The first modern pizza leads off the four pizzas you must have. Getting a wood-fired Neopolitan pizza hot from a brick oven is chef’s kiss!
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Pizza
The Pitch: A big, foldable slice of pizza on the go is quintessential New York. No time to sit … let’s go!
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Pizza
The Pitch: Deep dish pizza, and its close cousin stuffed pizza, are hallmarks of the Chicago experience. Whether you hit Giordano’s, Gino’s East, Lou Malnati’s, or Pequod’s, you won’t leave hungry!
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Pizza
The Pitch: Detroit-style pizza has been rocketing up food lovers’ wish lists enough to be included with Italy, New York, and Chicago on our list. The Buddy’s chain in and around Detroit invented this thick, rectangular pizza with caramelized edges and sauce on top. Our favorite? The Via 313 chain out of Austin, Texas of all places (the founders are from Detroit, though).
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Country: Many Latin American countries
Type of Food: Heavy Appetizer
The Pitch: Ceviche is one of our few “cold” dishes. It’s “cooked” by curing the fish in an acid (think lemon or sour lime juice) and served with a scooping agent like tortilla chips.
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Country: Thailand
Type of Food: Soup
The Pitch: Aka tom yum or tom yam, this is a hot and sour soup where the varations include broth that can be creamy or clear.
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Country: India
Type of Food: Cheese
The Pitch: This is a wonderful sour milk soft cheese that can be used in just about any curry you’d put chicken into.
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Country: Italy
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: Ladyfingers, coffee, mascapone, cocoa … I mean it’s no wonder why this layered cake concoction is such a favorite!
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Meat
The Pitch: Local cuisines tend to feature whatever’s around, and there are a lot of gators in places like Florida and Louisiana. Alligator meat can be used in all sorts of recipes, like the battered gator bites above.
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Country: Japan
Type of Food: Meat
The Pitch: Kobe beef is made from a particular type of Wagyu (aka Japanese cattle) using a particular set of quality rules. Taste it, if only to see if you notice a difference!
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Country: Italy
Type of Food: Pasta
The Pitch: If spaghetti carbonara is on the menu, I’m ordering it! That mix of bacon-ish meat, white cheeses, and egg…yum! Cacio e pepe is also great, but this is that on steroids!
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Country: Indian subcontinent
Type of Food: Main Dish
The Pitch: This rice dish is a favorite, whether with chicken, lamb, goat, or vegetarian. Pair it with raita and mango pickle!
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Country: Britain
Type of Food: Main Dish
The Pitch: This savory pie has exactly what you’d think it has. A body-warming dish on a gray day!
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: The mix of cultures in Louisiana came up with this mix of a tomato-infused rice dish. It often has seafood, chicken, and that glorious andouille sausage (yum!). It may have grown out of the jollof rice earlier in this list.
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Country: Hungary
Type of Food: Stew
The Pitch: Just looking at it, you can see why it was the food of shepherds. So good with potatoes, dumplings, or bread!
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Country: Austria
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: Yup, it does mean “apple strudel.” Like apple pie, it’s great with vanilla ice cream!
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Country: India
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: It’s the dipping sauces that make this Southern Indian rice crepe (and its cousin idli) so good. Sambar, idli podi, chutney, and potato curry all elevate this oily creation!
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Country: Austria
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: Schnitzel refers to a thin slice of any meat. It’s generally pounded thin, breaded, and fried. Wiener schnitzel is the veal version.
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Sandwich
The Pitch: You know it! Corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut, and dressing (either Russian or Thousand Island) all on rye. Get it at one of NYC’s delis (like Katz’s).
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Country: Southeast Asian countries, like Malaysia
Type of Food: Breakfast, Snack, Street Food
The Pitch: Think a layered, buttery, better naan dipped into a curry gravy. So, so good!
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Country: England
Type of Food: Snack
The Pitch: Take a boiled egg, envelop it in sausage, bread it, and fry or bake it and you have a Scotch egg!
If you’re wondering, it’s a mystery whether “Scotch” refers to the country, the cooking process, or some combination of both!
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Country: Egypt, Greece
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: Moussaka can be made with either eggplant or potatoes. Ground meat can also be in the mix of this layered, lasagna-like food.
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Country: China
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: It’s the crispy skin that’s the key here…the meat is second fiddle!
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Country: Mexico
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: This is made from pork cut from a spit like gyro meat. Pineapple is the other key ingredient with the onions and cilantro!
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Country: Mexico
Type of Food: Side Dish
The Pitch: Think of it as a deluxe ear of corn. Instead of just butter and salt, it’s got tons of spices and likely some cotija cheese!
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Country: Portugal, Spain, France
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: Those who associate this cake with New Orleans and Mardi Gras are only catching the tail end of this phenomenon. It is traditionally associated with the Epiphany (the magi visiting baby Jesus…hence the little baby baked in).
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Country: Southeast Asian countries
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: This is a fried rice dish with great seasonings, some combo of meats and veggies, and often an egg (the best part!).
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Country: Poland and United States
Type of Food: Breakfast Main
The Pitch: We’ll give Poland credit for the bagel and New York City credit for the lox! Let the battle over who has the best bagel resume!
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Country: Japan, Spain, Turkey, etc.
Type of Food: Meat
The Pitch: There are a surprising number of countries that eat octopus meat. Too many to list … and too hard to suggest just one dish made with it!
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Country: Japan
Type of Food: Soup
The Pitch: This noodle soup is so much more complex than the store-bought variety college kids eat. Enjoy this adventure!
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Country: Iran or Russia
Type of Food: Appetizer
The Pitch: Is there any food more associated with being rich than these fish eggs? If true caviar’s not in the budget, we’ll accept Texas caviar (a type of black-eyed pea salad).
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Country: Spain
Type of Food: Main Course
The Pitch: Straight outta Valencia, paella is another formidable rice dish powerhouse! If you’re wondering about the typical yellow coloring, that’s saffron!
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Main Dish
The Pitch: Maryland crab cakes may be the most famous, and very simple to let the meat from blue crabs speak for itself. Maybe with some Old Bay seasoning invited to the flavor party!
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Country: Italy
Type of Food: Soup
The Pitch: Stuffed shells in a chicken broth. Like a more elegant chicken noodle soup!
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Country: Thailand
Type of Food: Main Dish
The Pitch: As the name might suggest, these stir-fried noodles are Thailand’s national dish and probably the one most first think of when going out for Thai.
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Sandwich
The Pitch: This Chicago classic can be found at Portillo’s, Al’s Beef, and Mr. Beef (the one that inspired The Bear), among other shops.
It’s tradition to “dip” the sandwich in the gravy (i.e. the au jus) to get it extra juicy. At Portillo’s, you can get it dipped, easy dipped, with extra gravy, dry, or with a side of gravy. We recommend “easy dipped,” but to each their own!
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Country: Various parts of Africa, Central America, Asia, etc.
Type of Food: Snack
The Pitch: Kind of a humble item to include on the list, but its popularity in so many parts of the world won us over. Plus, we needed a snack to go with all these heavy dishes and desserts!
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Country: China
Type of Food: Soup
The Pitch: We admit that the first impression is odd … it’s a bird’s nest that you eat?!?!? But Chinese foodies swear by it, so it makes the list!
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Country: Italy
Type of Food: Main Dish
The Pitch: Potatoes drive this heavenly dumpling pasta. My family likes ours with pesto, but any of your favorite sauces work!
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Country: France
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: These almond-y, beautiful-hamburger-looking desserts come in all kinds of flavors and a rainbow of colors.
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Country: Cambodia
Type of Food: Snack
The Pitch: Yeah, this is the one most will skip, but it’s a tourist attraction to visitors of Skuon, where they actually breed tarantulas for eating. This is one reason I may never get to a perfect score of 100 on the bucket list…will you?
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Sandwich
The Pitch: This iconic sandwich can be found all over the city of Philadelphia, and everyone has STRONG thoughts on their favorite purveyor.
Pat’s and Geno’s are the most famous and sit across the street from each other. Go with Pat’s.
For a deep tracks pick, try the Philly cheesesteak on a “seeded” bun at Cosmi’s Deli. It’s been around since 1932 and is one of the few places that doesn’t use an Amoroso roll, so it’s a good change of pace.
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Country: Thailand
Type of Food: Main Dish
The Pitch: Like many of our bucket list foods, this Thai curry has influences from multiple cultures including the Middle East and other parts of Asia.
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Country: Various Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries including Greece, Turkey, and Iran
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: Layered honey, filo dough, and nuts…yum, yum, yum!
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Country: Singapore and other countries with Chinese ex-pats
Type of Food: Main Dish
The Pitch: The key here is the rice, which is cooked in the poached chicken broth!
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Country: France
Type of Food: Dessert
The Pitch: Yes, it’s from France, but New Orleans may be most famous for them.
And Cafe du Monde shows us the difference between a place tourists go for a reason and a tourist trap. They really are amazing there, especially with the chicory coffee … and don’t worry, the line moves very fast!
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Country: Germany
Type of Food: Noodles
The Pitch: These egg noodles got their name because they vaguely resemble sparrows.
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Country: Worldwide
Type of Food: Anything
The Pitch: We put this one in as a “catch-all.” Some say it’s high-end restaurants doing “weird” stuff with food in small portions. But it’s using chemistry to make food in interesting, often beautiful ways.
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Country: United States
Type of Food: Sandwich
The Pitch: This is the “other” big sandwich in Philly. It features roast pork, broccoli rabe, and sharp provolone cheese. The definitive purveyor? Tommy DiNic’s at Reading Terminal Market.
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There you go…our 100-food bucket list!
We saw so many savory dishes, delectable desserts, tasty snacks, and even some weird stuff!
Which highlights two big questions I’d love for you to answer in the comments:
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1) How many of these 100 have you had (did you beat my 76?), and
2) What must-have food did I miss?
Let me know in the comments!
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Very nicely done but I believe you missed Ethiopia’s Doro Wot. I’m not African but when done well it is a taste fantastic.
Thanks, Don! I have never tried Doro Wot but it sounds amazing. We might need to update the list to 101 foods! 😄